The answer is: Elymas

Acts 13:8

On his first missionary journey, Paul and his companion Barnabas descended upon the island of Cyprus, where they encountered a figure named Elymas, a sorcerer who was not only full of cunning but worked as a kind of adviser to a Roman proconsul named Sergius Paulus. Interestingly, this story unfolds like a fascinating duel of faith versus deception. Elymas wasn’t just peddling tricks; he’s representative of the resistance against the new and transformative message that Paul was proclaiming.

Cyprus is noteworthy too, being the birthplace of Barnabas, which adds another layer to their mission. The confrontation with Elymas highlights a crucial aspect of Paul’s work: overcoming barriers to the Gospel. The mainland would soon see plots against him, but here in Cyprus, Paul confidently rebukes Elymas. With boldness, Paul—inspired rather than intimidated—calls him a “child of the devil” and a temporary blinder. It's like a dramatic scene from a stage where light meets shadow. Elymas is struck blind temporarily as a display of stark divine authority.

And how did this affect the proconsul? He became fascinated not revolted, ultimately showing that even rulers might be deeply influenced by the courage and clarity of faith. The outcome marks a key point in early Christianity: pivotal moments wherein sensing divine folly led key figures, and by extension their nations, towards faith. It serves as a reminder of how encounters with diverse cultures and the power dynamics of the early Church shaped its travels and ultimate spread.